Saxon E. Sharpe

Biography

My research as a Quaternary paleoecologist focuses on the interaction between biotic systems and climate: how climate variation can affect individual species and communities and their various response to climate change. Through my work regarding the Yucca Mountain proposed nuclear waste repository, I had the opportunity to delve into the paleoecology and long-term climate of southern Nevada and the southwest to gain an appreciation of glacial and interglacial periods and landscape change brought about by those climate extremes. My favorite climate and landscape proxy materials are terrestrial and (freshwater) aquatic mollusks and vegetation remains from packrat (Neotoma) middens (nests). Mollusks and vegetation can enhance our understanding of past hydrologic and climate variability and landscape change over time, thus providing insight into future variability. I feel that it is essential to apply the results of paleoenvironmental studies to help solve problems facing urban and natural areas such as water quality and availability, natural versus human induced climate variation, loss of biodiversity, and the effects of global warming on natural biotic communities and agriculture

Research Interest

mollusks, climate change, paleoenvironments, Paisley Caves, Snowmastodon project, Snowmass